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Changes to social assistance

10/19/00

A new, two-step process to apply for social assistance will be up and running for Renfrew County residents within a week. As of Wednesday (October 25), applicants for either Ontario Works or the Ontario Disability Support Program will make their first contact with the social assistance program by telephone. The first step of the new application process is to contact an Intake Screening Unit (ISU), to have a financial assessment done over the telephone.

Residents of Renfrew County will contact the eastern Ontario ISU at 1-888-644-3444. Trained staff will go through a series of questions to determine if callers are eligible for social assistance. Those who are eligible for Ontario Works will then be booked for an information session and a verification interview at the local Ontario Works office. The information session will provide applicants with detailed information about requirements to participate in Ontario Works, the benefits available, and the services offered through the program.

During the verification interview, applicants will be asked to provide the necessary documents to verify the information they gave during their telephone screening session.

Applicants will also be asked to complete a participation agreement which outlines the activities they will undertake through Ontario Works to help them find a job. "Our staff have been working hard to prepare for these changes," comments Mark Darroch, Social Services Director for the County of Renfrew.

It's a very open system. People will have the information they need upfront, so that they can quickly begin the process of preparing themselves for the job market," Darroch adds. "The new system will allow us to concentrate on that job-readiness aspect of Ontario Works, and we're looking forward to that." Those who are currently receiving social assistance will also see some changes to the way the system operates. The Government of Ontario has introduced a new Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system that allows social assistance clients to independently obtain information over the phone about their case files. Cheque details, their case status, information about special benefits and overpayment recovery will be available through the new phone information system. All clients will receive an information package in the mail within the next two weeks outlining further details about the IVR system and a personal nine-digit PIN number which they can use to access their information.

For further information about the IVR system or the changes to social assistance processes, call your local County of Renfrew Ontario Works office.